Partnership 2000 Background

Partnership 2000, a leading project of the Jewish Agency and Jewish Federations across North America, is a new and powerful way for Israelis and Diaspora communities to get to know each other. The model succeeds in developing direct, personal contacts between Jewish communities around the world and areas in Israel. To date there are over 40 partnerships which connect 550 Jewish communities to Israel, expanding relationships and establishing joint activities.

Partnership 2000 Modi'in - Rochester

The partnership between the citizens of Modi'in and the Jewish community of Rochester, New York was launched in November 2003. Rochester community leaders traveled to Israel to tour potential cities with whom they might partner and found the citizens of Modi'in to be a great match. The ties formed between the two communities will be on a people to people basis, connecting schools, students, teachers, cultural delegates, etc. Youth and education will be one of the primary goals. Each of the last three years, from the "community" segment of its overseas allocation, the Rochester Federation has earmarked $80,000 to the Jewish Agency to be used specifically for Partnership 2000.

The partnership is conducted through steering committees compiled of delegates of the communities of Modi'in and Rochester. Heading the steering committee on the Israeli side is Major General (Ret) Amos Malka and with him are representatives of many different trades - business, education, culture, law and media. Volunteers from a large variety of professions serve on the steering committee of the Jewish Community Federation of Greater Rochester, led by the husband and wife team of Don Onimus and Lorraine Wolch.